in an article published in Psychology todayAlice Boyce, a clinical psychologist, lists these mood-affecting microbes that can “make you sick to your stomach.”
That’s the last straw. Sometimes all it takes is a minor comment, a task added to our to-do list or a minor mistake at work, an apology, a “dog mood”. Clinical psychologist Alice Boyes calls these types of events “mood microtraumas.” In an article written by him and published on the website Psychology today March 26, an anxiety expert warns of the disproportionate impact these injuries have on our well-being. To reduce their frequency, it invites you to learn how to recognize them.
Micro injuries
Even minor events can cause rumination, discouragement, frustration, sadness, or anxiety. Alice Boyes gives several examples.
- An innocent comment or observation which leads to social comparison, such as seeing a child who has mastered a skill that your child has not yet mastered.
- A little mistake it makes you feel like you’re not doing a good job.
- A bit of a setback while you exert considerable effort.
- A bit of a disappointment when you’re trying to be very productive, like when you go to an ATM to make an errand and find it doesn’t work.
- One who jokes on a topic that is important to you.
- When? someone is usually friendly and optimistic nowhich deprives you of the stimulating effect you expect from contact with this person.
- You attend an event for an hour, check your email at the end of the event and see this New tasks are waiting for you.
In some situations, these events can particularly affect us. This is especially the case when there are several micro-injuries in a short period of time (for example, three in one hour),” the psychologist notes. But also when you’re already feeling vulnerable or low on energy due to factors such as fatigue or illness, or when you’ve put in a lot of effort to improve your mood and “a little event comes along to bring it down.”
Insect bite
If you are facing such minor mood disorders, the psychologist gives some keys to feel better. Once the triggering event is identified, Alice Beuys invites us to identify exactly the emotion we are feeling. “Allow yourself to go with the emotion without amplifying it,” she advises readers. Then you should limit your thoughts and wait for the bad mood to pass normally. “If you don’t crash, your mood will recover quickly from a minor injury, just as your body would recover from a minor cut or insect bite,” the expert points out.
It’s all about finding a balance between allowing yourself to be hurt a little and moving on. And Alice Boyz reminds us that sometimes all it takes is a hug from a loved one or some time outside to put you in a better mood.
Source: Le Figaro
